The Lithuanian Government has granted accreditation to Internet journalists and bloggers.

Approved back in March, the Government Accreditation Rules provide for accreditation to mainstream media and (or) representatives of information dissemination (including dotcom journalists and bloggers), who provide regular coverage about the Government.

“The Government provides an equal treatment for both conventional media as well as bloggers. Thus, bloggers are welcome to apply for accreditation and report on the activities of the Government in their blogs. We appreciate blogs for their objectivity and often fair criticism”, – said Laurynas Bučalis, Director of the Government Communication Department.

The open access to Government accreditation for bloggers aims at an inclusive policy, openness and transparency in decision-making while taking into account the fact of growing influence of IT and the Internet providing for an immediate access to information from different sources.

The Government Accreditation Rules grant accreditation to bloggers and managers of public information means and their representatives who analyse Government activities and (or) report about them in the media which, at the time of accreditation, is fully operational and publicly accessible.